When Does McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Come Out?

McDonald’s has an array of decadent milkshakes on its menu, with some evergreen and limited-time flavors. One such limited-time flavor that people eagerly wait for is the Shamrock shake. So when does McDonald’s Shamrock Shake come out? Let’s have a look! 

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is a limited-time offering available at McDonald’s every year just around St.Patrick’s Day. In 2023, the shake was available at McDonald’s from February 20th until March 17th. It costs around $3-4.

A few years back, McDonald’s discontinued milkshakes altogether in the UK, making US people wonder if McDonald’s still has milkshakes. They very much do, and Shamrock Shake has to be a fan favorite! In this article, we will discuss this incredible shake and details on when you may expect to see it again at McDonald’s! 

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Comes Out Around St. Patrick’s Day

McDonald’s Shamrock shake appears on the menu just once yearly, around the beautiful occasion of St. Patrick’s Day. 

Since St.Patrick’s Day is on March 17th, in most cases, the Shamrock shake is available just until that day. In 2023, due to high demand, McDonald’s started selling Shamrock shakes on February 20th. The Shamrock Shakes were available at just about every McDonald’s participating store until March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. 

A Little History About McDonald’s Shamrock Shake

The Shamrock Shake is a green, mint-flavored milkshake introduced in 1970 in honor of St.Patrick’s Day. The shake is available primarily in the United States, Canada, and Ireland around February and March. 

The Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s has had a pretty incredible and fascinating history, just like the whole McDonald’s corporation. The Shamrock Shake was created in 1970 by Roger Merchandising in Chicago. 

The official flavor of the Shamrock Shake now is mint. However, that is different from how it started with this decadent treat! Initially, the shake was lemon or lime flavored with vanilla ice cream and lemon or lime sherbet and vanilla syrup. 

Later, they also eliminated the lemon or lime flavor, and the milkshake was eventually just a vanilla milkshake with green coloring. However, they later settled on the mint flavor for this shake, and ever since, people have gone ga-ga over it! 

McDonald’s has also introduced various versions of the Shamrock Shake. In 1980, they came up with Shamrock Sundae. However, it was soon taken off the menu due to poor sales. Similarly, as recently as 2017, McDonald’s introduced other milkshake versions. 

These versions included Shamrock Chocolate Shake, the Shamrock Chocolate Chip Frappé, the Shamrock Mocha, and the Shamrock Hot Chocolate. However, none of these impressed customers as much as the original shake, so McDonald’s has been bringing back the original Shamrock Shake over the past few years. 

How Long Are Shamrock Shakes Available For? 

In most cases, McDonald’s serves Shamrock shakes for just a month, and they stop selling the same right after St.Patrick’s Day. 

Since the Shamrock Shake is a limited-time menu item from McDonald’s holiday menu, it is available yearly for only one month around St. Patrick’s Day. Almost every year, McDonald’s returns these shakes to the menu just a month before St. Patrick’s Day. 

The shakes are usually taken off the menu right after St.Patrick’s Day, March 18th. However, you may also find it for a few more days after the holiday in case the stocks last until then. 

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Ingredients

The primary three ingredients used to make McDonald’s Shamrock Shake are: Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream, Shamrock Shake Syrup, and Whipped Light Cream. 

The ingredients mentioned above are the essential ingredients for making this Shamrock Shake. Now, let us look at what each component is made of. 

1. Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream

Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.

2. Shamrock Shake Syrup

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1

3. Whipped Light Cream

Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Liquid Sugar, Contains 2% or Less: Mono and Diglycerides, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide)

McDonald’s has also clearly mentioned that they do not use actual Shamrocks to make the milkshake.

Is Shamrock Shake The Best Milkshake At McDonald’s? 

Yes, for people who love the flavor of mint, Shamrock Shake is the best shake at McDonald’s. 

It can be a little tricky to judge if McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is the best milkshake offered at McDonald’s. This is simply because everyone can have varying preferences regarding the flavors of milkshakes. 

However, for people who love Mint’s flavor, there is nothing better than a good old Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s. The perfectly refreshing and balanced taste of mint, paired with decadent McDonald’s Vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream, creates a symphony of rich and refreshing flavors. 

Of course, it is because people love the flavor of this shake so much that McDonald’s brings it back for a limited time every year! So yes, some may not agree it is the best milkshake at McDonald’s, but it is one of the best ones offered, which is for sure. 

What Do People Say About McDonald’s Shamrock Shake? 

Although many people look forward to the Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s, there have been mixed reviews about the same. Most people have said nice things about the shake, while others firmly believe it was not made well at the store they got it from. 

Let us look at what some people say about the Shamrock Shake for a better idea. The Takeout mentioned that it was their first time trying the Shamrock Shake, and this is what they had to say about it,

“ The mint flavor of it was a stretch, I thought. If you blindfolded me and I couldn’t see its green color, it might have taken me a few sips to arrive at the mint. It tastes like a mix of cream, Trader Joe’s Speculoos cookie butter, and liquified butter mints. I’ve since heard some people say the mint flavor is like toothpaste, but my toothpaste is way more minty. That’s sad, considering.” 

They added, “The texture is the best part of the Shamrock Shake, by far. It’s almost mousselike, with a creamy, light body that surely can only be achieved by feats of food engineering or extensive NASA research.” 

Next is what Satellite said about the Shamrock Shake: “The shake was given in a transparent cup, displaying its subtle neon-green color and swirl of whipped cream on top. The mint-to-vanilla ratio was quite even, resulting in perfect flavor harmony. The ice cream was smooth and creamy and made for a delectable shake.” 

Lastly, the reviewer Fast Food Geek said about the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake, “The vanilla-based shake and the swirls of Hulk’s special sauce give the beverage a gnarly appearance. The shake needs to be stirred up a little more, with the mint swirl taking to the ice cream like oil over water. Sipping in, I was in a minty wonder world.  

Overwhelmed with the classic flavor that had attracted crowds since the 80s, I couldn’t help but be bombarded by a harsh afterburn. After sipping into my girlfriend’s and noticing that hers was even worse, going down like battery acid, I began questioning the syrup allotment we had received.

Because I’ve had sham shakes, I can tell you that my prior experiences were better. We just received too much syrup, especially the second one we had. I don’t believe this is a nationwide crisis, just a simple distribution error at this location, chugging out more neon green dye than a homo sapiens mouth can withstand.” 

So yes, people have had various experiences with the Shamrock Shake, resulting in varying reviews. But, since McDonald’s brings it back every year is enough proof that many people indeed love the shake doubts about the shake, the best bet is to try one for yourself the next time they come out! 

Conclusion

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is a favorite for many people. It is a limited-time offering available at McDonald’s every year, starting just a month before St. Patrick’s Day, right until after the holiday is over. 

The Shamrock Shake is a mint-flavored shake with a vanilla base that quite a few people love. Although a few people have also said other things about it, most people love it! The best way to judge whether you would like the Shamrock Shake is to wait until McDonald’s brings it back for St.Patrick’s Day! 

Similarly, McDonald’s offers various options on its menu for a limited time now and then. Look if McDonald’s has eggnog shakes and Boba for more exciting items! Also, don’t forget to check out if McDonald’s has holiday pie and whether or not they still have smoothies on their menu! 

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